Inflatable bladder



1'. H. FEwLAss INFLA'IABLEv BLADDER Nov. 15, 192 7..

Filed Fb.1o. 192e A TTORNEY.

- s ball, in which thebladder is Patented Nov. 15,1 1927.

' PATENT OFFICE.

'.rHoHAs H. rwLAss, or HIGHLAND PARK, MICHIGAN,

INFLATABLH/ BLADDHR.

Application filed February My invention relates to improvements in inflatable balls or bladders as they are commonly termed.

Air bladders ofthe/typeused in foot balls,

basket balls, volley balls and ,water balls are normally provided, as constructed at the present time, with a tubular neck which receives the discharge nozzle of an air pump. Following the inflation of the bladder this lo tubular neck is fastened up being tied or in a suitable manner, and the outer casing within which the bladder is contained is laced up. This is a slow, painstaking task. It is diiiicult vto lace the casing and place the tied neck of the' bladder in position thereunder once the bladder is fully distended. There is atendency to leak atthe closure of the bladder and also deterioration of the material at-such point. Valves have been provided for this purpose, but this a'dds to the expense and provides movable parts which are subject to wear and get out of order and does not eliminate the diculty of lacing the casing to close the openingiA herethrough .following inflation of the bladder".

I have used the word bladder 'andfinatable ball synonymously throughout the application and I have shown my invention in connection with an article such as a basket disposed with in a laced casing. However, the invention is not limited to an article of this specic class. The bladder itself might be provided with a wearing surface rather than being fitted with an exterior casing.

My invention consists-in the provision of a bladder of this character having a wall portion so formed that the discharge nozzle of the inatin mechanism may be inserted therethroug to "inlate the bladder and u on the removal of this discharge nozzle fo lowing the iniiation of the bladder this wall portion is opening occupied by during the ination.

More articularl the invention resides in the provlsion of a ladder having a portion of its wall normally interiorl cupped and 5o of greater thickness than tliiev remaining wall area and through which thickened cup ed wall portion the discharge nozzle of t e iniating mechanism is projected to infiate the bladder and' following which ination and upn the removal roi. the discharge nozzle t e cupped portion is reversed,

the discharge nozzle distended to seal thev 1o, 192s. lserial No. 87,282.

that is, it becomes convex outwardly to suit the particular shape of the bladder and the aperture throu nozzle of the iniating mechanism extended gh which the discharge' is sealed by the inatng fluid tensioning.

the wall structure to seal such opening.

In the drawing,-

Figure 1 lis a. side elevation of a ball illustrating my invention, with the inflating device in position.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 2 2, Fig. 1. s

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through the ball illustrated in Fig. 2, with the inlating device removed.

In the drawing the invention isillustrated in a basket ball of the conventional design. This isprovided with the usual casing'10 having an opening at 12 normally closed by the lacing 14:.k There is an interior bladder 16. This bladder is so formed as to have an interiorly cupped wall portion 18 of substantially greater thickness than the remaining wall portion of the bladder, as shownln Fig. 2.

I have here shown the bladder as formed of puncturable material such as rubber, and

in the inflation of the same there is provided a discharge nozzle 2O which is pointed at the end 22 and provided with an outlet 24. This nozzle has an enlarged interiorly threaded opposite end 26 which is capable of being threaded upon the outer end of the conventional air pump valve connection.

This discharge nozzle 20 can be readily pushed through the thickened wall portion of the bladder and the bladder iniated inv Before the bladder is be laced up, which the usual manner. inflated the casing can is easily accomplished with the bladder in the deated condition, and upon inflation of the bladder it is distended to ll the casin and upon removal of the nozzle the thickens wall portion seals the opening occupied Aby the nozzle during the process of inflation.

This operation may be repeated successively for the normal life of the bladder without damaging deterioration of that portion of the wall structure through which the nozzle is projected.

What I claim is:

1. An article of the class described, com, 1

prising an outer casing, an inner bladder,

said casing provided with an openlng through its wall, and means for .closing .y meente said opening, said bladder .provided oppomally inwardly cupped Wall area of greater site the vopening through the Wall of the vthickness than its remaining Wall area dis-I casing with a normally inwardly cupped posed opposite the said opening through puncturable Wall portion of greater thickthe casing Wall which cupped Wall area is 5 ness than the remaining Wall portion. puncturable vto receive therethrough the 15 2. A ball structure comprising, a casing nozzle of an iniiating device.

having an opening through its Wall, means lln testimony whereof, l sign this speci for closing said opening, a bladder Within cation.

the casing removable throu h said Wall i 10 opening therein, said bladder aving e norl THMAS H. FEWLASS. 

